A COMPANY and its director who admitted selling dietary supplements which madeillegal claims about treating or curing a variety of diseases were fined &#xA3;6,000 yesterday.

Velvet Energy UK and its director Pauline Adams, based in Long Buckby, Daventry, were ordered to pay the fine and costs of &#xA3;500 at Towcester Magistrates' Court following an investigation by Northamptonshire County Council trading standards.

The dietary supplement, called Velvet Energy, consisted of 60 500mg capsules sold for &#xA3;25. The company specialises in using remedies such as crushed deer antlers for treatment of human diseases.

It claimed to cure diseases such as cancer, rheumatism, arthritis, back, joint and muscle pain, migraine, anaemia, infertility and osteoporosis.

Adams pleaded guilty yesterday to seven charges of being in breach of food labelling regulations under the Food Safety Act and seven moreon behalf of her company.

The company was warned in 1998 that making claims in relation to the treatment of human diseases was illegal, yet it continued to make the claims, the court heard.

Cabinet member for trading standards, James Ashton said, "Pauline Adams and her company were making serious claims about the benefits of using these supplements.